First Neanderthal rock 'art' found in Europe

The first example of a rock engraving attributed to Neanderthals, dated at over 39,000 years old, has been discovered in Europe.
The engraving found in Gorham's Cave in Gibraltar consists of a deeply impressed cross-hatching carved into rock.
Its analysis calls into question the view that the production of representational and abstract depictions on cave walls was a cultural innovation introduced into Europe by modern humans, researchers said.
On the contrary, the findings support the hypothesis that Neanderthals had a symbolic material culture.
The production of representational and abstract depictions on cave walls is seen as a key stage in the development of human cultures.

Until now, this cultural innovation was considered to be a characteristic feature of modern humans, who colonised Europe around 40,000 years ago, researchers said.

It has also frequently been used to suggest that there were marked cognitive differences between modern humans and the Neanderthals who preceded them, and who did not express themselves in this way. The recent discovery in Gorham's Cave changes the picture, they said.
It consists of an abstract engraving in the form of a deeply impressed cross-hatching carved into the bedrock at the back of the cave.
At the time it was identified it was covered by a layer of sediment shown by radiocarbon dating to be 39,000 years old. Since the engraving lies beneath this layer it is therefore older.

This dating, together with the presence of Mousterian tools characteristic of Neanderthals in the sediments covering the engraving, shows that it was made by Neanderthals, who still populated the south of the Iberian peninsula at that time.
Researchers at the PACEA Laboratory in France undertook a microscopic analysis of the engraving, produced a 3-D reconstruction of it, and carried out an experimental study, which demonstrated its origin.
The work also showed that the engraved lines are not the result of utilitarian activity, such as the cutting of meat or skins, but rather that of repeatedly and intentionally passing a robust pointed lithic tool (a pointed tool made of stone) into the rock to carve deep grooves.

The lines were skilfully carved, and the researchers calculated that between 188 and 317 strokes of the engraving tool were necessary to achieve this result.
The discovery supports the view that graphic expression was not exclusive to modern humans, and that some Neanderthal cultures produced abstract engravings, using these to mark their living space.
The finding was published in the journal PNAS.